PLAINVIEW – Lathan Moore, up-and-coming country music singer, will present a concert in Harral Memorial Auditorium at Wayland Baptist University on Thursday, April 2, at 7 p.m.

Moore has recently signed with J&V Records of Nashville and is in the process of recording his debut album. He previously attended Wayland and is the brother of Chris Moore, technical theatre director at Wayland.

A native of Harrisburg, Ill., Moore has been singing since age four. He was raised in a coal-mining community and was active in the band at Harrisburg High School, playing the trumpet, trombone and tuba. Though he also plays the rhythm guitar, it was the vocal music that always appealed more to Moore, and he always dreamed of having a singing career.

Lathan grew up singing in church and in high school choir, and he joined a country gospel quartet called “Eastern Sky” just after graduation from high school. He sang baritone for the group, touring for two years throughout the mid-east and Ohio Valley, and he also sang lead for a time with the Reliance Quartet from Paducah, Ky.

He came to Wayland on a music and theatre scholarship, continuing to hone his craft. After a year, he returned home to work in the coal mines in order to save money for his move to Nashville and the pursuit of his dream career.

In 2004, he entered the Southern Illinois Regional Colgate Country Showdown – similar music contests are held all over the country, including one hosted in Plainview by KKYN – and was contacted by Chelsea Studios in Nashville to record song demos. He finally saved up enough money to move to Nashville permanently and began performing in local venues and at private corporate events. He began trying his hand at songwriting as well, and is working on his first album through independent label J&V Records and a spring tour. Norro Wilson, who has worked with many Nashville musicians, is producing the album, which Moore describes as having five “A-drawer” songs – those with chart-topping possibilities.

Moore said his favorite song on the album is “Love in Your Life,” one he thinks has broad appeal for its universal message of love holding the world together.

Tickets for the April 2 concert are $10 for adults and $5 for Wayland students. Tickets are available in the WBU bookstore or at the door.